Icon updating method and apparatus, and electronic device

ABSTRACT

Disclosed in the embodiments of the present disclosure are an icon updating method and apparatus, and an electronic device. A specific implementation of the method comprises: determining whether a user needs to be prompted to open a preset subpage, wherein the preset subpage has an initial page icon; in response to determining that the user needs to be prompted to open the preset subpage, acquiring a reference image for updating the initial page icon; on the basis of the reference image, generating a first page icon; and updating the initial page icon to the first page icon. In the implementation, by means of updating the initial page icon of the preset subpage to the generated first page icon, the user is prompted to open the preset subpage.

The present application is a continuation of International PatentApplication No. PCT/CN2021/082737 filed on Mar. 24, 2021, which claimsthe priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202010252303.8, titled“ICON UPDATING METHOD AND APPARATUS, AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE”, filed onApr. 1, 2020, with the Chinese Patent Office, both of which areincorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to the technical field of computers, andin particular to an icon updating method, an icon updating apparatus,and an electronic device.

BACKGROUND

In some applications, a displayed page may contain multiple sub-pages.Different sub-pages may contain different information. After a useropens a sub-page, information contained in the opened sub-page may bedisplayed to the user.

In some scenarios, an icon of a sub-page may be displayed in differentcolors before the user opens the sub-page and after the user opens thesub-page. For example, a page icon of a sub-page may be displayed inwhite before the user opens the sub-page, and the page icon of thesub-page may be displayed in green after the user opens the sub-page.

SUMMARY

The content part of the present disclosure is provided to introduceconcepts in a brief form, and these concepts are to be described indetail in the following embodiments. The content of the presentdisclosure is not intended to identify the key features or essentialfeatures of the claimed technical solutions, nor is it intended to beused to limit the scope of the claimed technical solutions.

According to the embodiments of the present disclosure, an icon updatingmethod, an icon updating apparatus, and an electronic device areprovided, to prompt the user to open a preset sub-page by replacing aninitial page icon of the preset sub-page with a generated first pageicon.

In a first aspect, an icon updating method is provided according to someembodiments of the present disclosure. The method includes: determiningwhether to prompt a user to open a preset sub-page, where the presetsub-page has an initial page icon; in response to determining to promptthe user to open the preset sub-page, obtaining a reference image forreplacing the initial page icon; generating a first page icon based onthe reference image; and replacing the initial page icon with the firstpage icon.

In a second aspect, an icon updating apparatus is provided according tosome embodiments of the present disclosure. The apparatus includes: adetermination unit, an obtaining unit, a first generation unit, and afirst updating unit. The determination unit is configured to determinewhether to prompt a user to open a preset sub-page, where the presetsub-page has an initial page icon. The obtaining unit is configured toobtain a reference image for replacing the initial page icon in responseto determining to prompt the user to open the preset sub-page. The firstgeneration unit is configured to generate a first page icon based on thereference image. The first updating unit is configured to replace theinitial page icon with the first page icon.

In a third aspect, an electronic device is provided according to someembodiments of the present disclosure. The electronic device includesone or more processors and a storage device. The storage device storesone or more programs. The one or more programs, when executed by the oneor more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform themethod provided in the first aspect.

In a fourth aspect, a computer-readable medium is provided according tosome embodiments of the present disclosure. The computer-readable mediumstores a computer program. The computer program, when executed by aprocessor, causes the processor to perform the method provided in thefirst aspect.

With the icon updating method, the icon updating apparatus, and theelectronic device according to the embodiments of the presentdisclosure, it is determined whether to prompt a user to open a presetsub-page, a reference image for replacing the initial page icon isobtained in response to determining to prompt the user to open thepreset sub-page, a first page icon is generated based on the referenceimage, and the initial page icon is replaced with the first page icon.Therefore, the user is prompted to open a preset sub-page by replacingan initial page icon of the preset sub-page with a generated first pageicon.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other features, advantages and aspects of the embodimentsof the present disclosure will be more apparent in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings and with reference to the following embodiments.Throughout the drawings, the same or similar reference numeralsrepresent the same or similar elements. It should be understood that thedrawings are schematic and the originals and elements are unnecessarilydrawn to scale.

FIG. 1 is a flow chart of an icon updating method according to someembodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an application scenario of an iconupdating method according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of an icon updating method according to someembodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a schematic structural diagram of an icon updating apparatusaccording to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 an exemplary system architecture to which an icon updating methodaccording to some embodiments of the present disclosure may be applied;and

FIG. 6 is a schematic structural diagram of an electronic deviceaccording to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The embodiments of the present disclosure are described in detail belowwith reference to the accompanying drawings. Although the drawings showsome embodiments of the present disclosure, it should be understood thatthe present disclosure can be implemented in various forms and is notlimited to the embodiments. The embodiments are provided for a morethorough and complete understanding of the present disclosure. It shouldbe understood that the drawings and the embodiments in the presentdisclosure are only illustrative of the disclosure, and are not intendedto limit the protection scope of the present disclosure.

It should be understood that the steps of the method according to theembodiments of the present disclosure may be performed in differentorders, and/or be performed in parallel. In addition, the methodembodiments may include additional steps and/or omit to perform theillustrated steps, not limiting the scope of the present disclosure.

The term “including” and its variants as used herein are open-endedincludes, that is, “including but not limited to”. The term “based on”means “based at least in part on”. The term “one embodiment” means “atleast one embodiment”. The term “another embodiment” means “at least oneadditional embodiment”. The term “some embodiments” means “at least someembodiments”. Definitions of other terms are provided in the followingdescription.

It should be noted that concepts such as “first” and “second” mentionedin the present disclosure are only used to distinguish differentdevices, modules or units, and are not intended to limit the order offunctions performed by the devices, modules or units or theinterdependence of the devices, modules and units.

It should be noted that the modifications of “one” and “a plurality of”mentioned in the present disclosure are illustrative rather thanrestrictive, and those skilled in the art should understand that unlessthe context clearly indicates otherwise, “one” and “a plurality of”should be understood as “one or a plurality of”.

Names of messages or information interacted between multiple apparatusesin the embodiments of the present disclosure are illustrative ratherthan limit the scope of the messages or information.

Reference is made to FIG. 1 , which shows a flow chart of an iconupdating method according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.As shown in FIG. 1 , the icon updating method includes the followingsteps 101 to 104.

In step 101, it is determined whether to prompt a user to open a presetsub-page.

In some embodiments, the execution body (such as, the terminal device501 and the terminal device 502 shown in FIG. 5 ) of the icon updatingmethod may determine whether to prompt a user to open a preset sub-page.

A page displayed in an application may contain multiple sub-pages. Thepreset sub-page may be a sub-page preset from the multiple sub-pagescontained in the page.

The preset sub-page has an initial page icon. The initial page icon maybe a page icon that the preset sub-page has before the page icon isupdated.

In some scenarios, the execution subject may determine a time lengthsince the user last opened the preset sub-page. In a case that the timelength since the user last opened the preset sub-page is greater than orequal to a preset time length, the execution body may determine toprompt the user to open the preset sub-page. In a case that the timelength since the user last opened the preset sub-page is less than apreset time length, the execution body may determine not to prompt theuser to open the preset sub-page.

In step 102, in response to determining to prompt the user to open thepreset sub-page, a reference image for replacing the initial page iconis obtained.

In some embodiments, in response to determining to prompt the user toopen the preset sub-page, the execution body may obtain a referenceimage for replacing the initial page icon.

The reference image may be used for replacing the initial page icon.

In some scenarios, the execution subject may obtain the reference imagefor replacing the initial page icon from a local server or acommunicatively connected server (such as, the server 504 shown in FIG.5 ).

In step 103, a first page icon is generated based on the referenceimage.

In some embodiments, after obtaining the reference image, the executionbody may generate a first page icon.

The first page icon may be used for replacing the initial page icon.

In some scenarios, the execution body may compress the reference imageto obtain a thumbnail, and then to generate the first page icon. Thatis, the first page icon may be a thumbnail of the reference image.

In step 104, the initial page icon is replaced with the first page icon.

In some embodiments, after generating the first page icon, the executionbody may replace the initial page icon of the preset sub-page with thefirst page icon.

Reference is made to FIG. 2 , which shows a schematic diagram of anapplication scenario of an icon updating method according to someembodiments of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 2 , a terminaldevice 201 may determine whether to prompt the user to open a presetsub-page 202. In response to determining to prompt the user to open thepreset sub-page 202, the terminal device 201 may obtain a referenceimage 204 for replacing an initial page icon 203 of the preset sub-page202. The terminal device 201 may generate a first page icon 205 based onthe reference image 204. Finally, the terminal device 201 may replacethe initial page icon 203 with the first page icon 205.

At present, with regard to prompting the user to open a sub-page, aprompt sign is displayed near a page icon of a sub-page to prompt theuser to open the sub-page in a case that the sub-page containsinformation to be viewed by the user according to the conventionaltechnology. It should be understood that in a case that the displayedprompt sign is small in size, the user tends to ignore the prompt sign,resulting in a poor effect of prompting the user to open the sub-page.

In the embodiments, in response to determining to prompt the user toopen the preset sub-page, the reference image for replacing the initialpage icon of the preset sub-page is obtained. Based on the obtainedreference image, the first page icon is generated. Then, the initialpage icon of the preset sub-page is replaced with the generated firstpage icon. Therefore, the user is prompted to open the preset sub-pageby replacing the initial page icon of the preset sub-page with thegenerated first page icon. It should be understood that, it is easy tocause the user to notice the change of the page icon of the presetsub-page by replacing the initial page icon of the preset sub-page,thereby improving the effect of prompting the user to open the presetsub-page.

In some optional implementations, the execution body may perform thefollowing steps.

Specifically, in response to a time length, in which an operation ofopening the preset sub-page is not detected after replacing the initialpage icon, not less than a second preset time length, the first pageicon is replaced with the initial page icon.

In the implementations, the execution body may detect an operation ofopening the preset sub-page performed by the user through a presetdetection program.

In the implementations, in response to a time length, in which anoperation of opening the preset sub-page is not detected after replacingthe initial page icon, not less than a second preset time length, theexecution body may replace the first page icon with the initial pageicon.

Therefore, after the initial page icon of the preset sub-page isreplaced with the first page icon, it is stopped to prompt the user toopen the preset sub-page if the user does not open the preset sub-pagefor a long time period.

In some optional implementations, the execution body may generate thefirst page icon in the following manner.

Specifically, a page icon matching a style of the initial page icon isgenerated as the first page icon.

The style of the initial page icon may include, but is not limited to,at least one of: a size of the initial page icon, a shape of the initialpage icon, and a pixel value of the initial page icon.

The page icon matching the style of the initial page icon indicates thata difference between the page icon and the initial page icon in style iswithin a preset difference range.

In some scenarios, the execution body may adjust the size, the shape,the pixel value and the like of the initial page icon, and generate apage icon within the preset difference range from the initial page iconin size, shape, pixel value and the like, as the first page icon.

Reference is made to FIG. 3 , which shows a flow chart of an iconupdating method according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.As shown in FIG. 3 , the icon updating method includes the followingsteps 301 to 307.

In step S301, it is determined whether to prompt a user to open a presetsub-page.

In step 302, in response to determining to prompt the user to open thepreset sub-page, a reference image for replacing the initial page iconis obtained.

In step 303, a first page icon is generated based on the referenceimage.

The steps 301, 302, and 303 may be respectively performed similar to thesteps 101, 102, and 103 in the embodiments shown in FIG. 1 . Thedescriptions of the steps 101, 102 and 103 are applicable to the steps301, 302 and 303, which are not repeated herein.

In step 304, a second page icon is generated based on the referenceimage.

In some embodiments, after obtaining the reference image for replacingthe initial page icon, the execution subject (such as, the terminaldevice 501 and the terminal device 502 shown in FIG. 5 ) of the iconupdating method may generate a second page icon based on the obtainedreference image.

The second page icon may be used for replacing the initial page icon.The second page icon is different from the first page icon.

In some scenarios, the second page icon is different from the first pageicon in size. The execution body may compress the reference image toobtain a thumbnail having a size different from the first page icon, andthen to generate the second page icon.

In some scenarios, the pixel value of the second page icon is differentfrom the pixel value of the first page icon. The execution body maycompress the reference image into a thumbnail having a same size as thefirst page icon, and adjust the pixel value of the obtained thumbnail toa preset pixel value, thereby generating the second page icon.

It should be noted that, the execution subject may perform step 303 andstep 304 in parallel, or may perform step 303 and step 304 respectively,which is not limited herein.

In step 305, the initial page icon is replaced with the first page icon.

The step 305 may be respectively performed similar to the step 104 inthe embodiments shown in FIG. 1 . The descriptions of the step 104 areapplicable to the step 305, which are not repeated herein.

In step 306, in response to detecting an operation of opening the presetsub-page after replacing the initial page icon, a currently displayedsub-page is switched to the preset sub-page.

In some embodiments, the execution body may detect the operation ofopening the preset sub-page performed by the user through a presetdetection program.

In practice, the operation performed by the user for opening the presetsub-page may be various operations performed by the user, for example,an operation of sliding from the currently displayed page to the presetsub-page, and an operation, such as a single click, a double click and along press, performed by the user on a page icon of the preset sub-page.

In some embodiments, in response to detecting an operation of openingthe preset sub-page after replacing the initial page icon, the executionsubject may switch from a currently displayed sub-page to the presetsub-page.

In step 307, the first page icon is replaced with the second page icon.

In some embodiments, the execution subject may replace the first pageicon with the second page icon.

In some scenarios, on detecting the operation of opening the presetsub-page performed by the user, the execution body may replace the firstpage icon with the second page icon. In other scenarios, when switchingfrom the currently displayed sub-page to the preset sub-page, theexecution body may replace the first page icon with the second pageicon.

In some optional implementations, the execution body may perform thefollowing steps.

Specifically, in response to a time length, in which the first page iconis replaced with the second page icon, not less than a first preset timelength, the second page icon is replaced with the initial page icon.

It should be understood that, in a case that the time length, in whichthe first page icon is replaced with the second page icon, is not lessthan the first preset time length, it indicates that the user opens thepreset sub-page for a long time period. Thus, after the user issuccessfully prompted to open the preset subpage, it is stopped toprompt the user to open the preset subpage.

In some embodiments, in response to detecting the operation of openingthe preset sub-page, the currently displayed sub-page is switched to thepreset sub-page, and the first page icon is replaced with the secondpage icon. Therefore, by replacing the first page icon of the presetsub-page with the second page icon, the user is prompted that the presetsub-page has been switched to.

In some optional implementations of an icon updating method according tothe embodiments of the present disclosure, the execution body mayperform the following operations to determine whether to prompt the userto open the preset sub-page.

In a first step, in response to detecting an operation of following atarget user performed by the user, a request for following the targetuser is transmitted to a communicatively connected server.

The target user may be a user whom the user requests to follow.

The operation of following a target user may be an operation of the userrequesting to follow a target user. In some scenarios, the operation offollowing a target user may be an operation performed by the user on acontrol prompting following a target user.

In a second step, in response to following result information returnedby the server indicating that the user has successfully followed thetarget user, it is determined to prompt the user to open the presetsub-page.

The following result information may indicate a result of the userrequesting to follow the target user.

After the user successfully follows the target user, it is determined toprompt the user to open the preset sub-page.

In some optional implementations of an icon updating method according tothe embodiments of the present disclosure, the execution subject mayobtain an avatar of the target user as the reference image. Therefore,after the user successfully follows the target user, the avatar of thetarget user is used as the reference image for generating the first pageicon.

In some optional implementations of an icon updating method according tothe embodiments of the present disclosure, information published by thetarget user followed by the user is displayed in the preset sub-page.

Information published by a user may include, but is not limited to, atleast one of: a text, an image, a video, and an audio.

It should be understood that after the user successfully follows thetarget user, the user is further prompted to view the informationpublished by the followed target user by prompting the user to open thepreset sub-page.

Referring to FIG. 4 , as an implementation of the method shown in theabove Figures, an icon updating apparatus is provided according to someembodiments of the present disclosure. The apparatus embodimentscorrespond to the above method embodiments shown in FIG. 1 .Specifically, the apparatus may be applied to various electronicdevices.

As shown in FIG. 4 , the icon updating apparatus according to someembodiments of the present disclosure includes: a determination unit401, an obtaining unit 402, a first generation unit 403, and a firstupdating unit 404. The determination unit 401 is configured to determinewhether to prompt a user to open a preset sub-page, where the presetsub-page has an initial page icon. The obtaining unit 402 is configuredto obtain a reference image for replacing the initial page icon inresponse to determining to prompt the user to open the preset sub-page.The first generation unit 403 is configured to generate a first pageicon based on the reference image. The first updating unit 404 isconfigured to replace the initial page icon with the first page icon.

In some embodiments, the processing of the determination unit 401, theobtaining unit 402, the first generation unit 403, and the firstupdating unit 404 of the icon updating apparatus and the technicaleffects obtained by performing the processing may refer to thedescriptions of the steps 101 to 104 in the embodiments corresponding toFIG. 1 , and are not repeated herein.

In some optional implementations, the icon updating apparatus mayfurther include: a second generation unit (not shown in the Figures) anda second updating unit (not shown in the Figures). The second generationunit is configured to generate a second page icon based on the referenceimage. The second updating unit is configured to, in response todetecting an operation of opening the preset sub-page after replacingthe initial page icon, switch from a currently displayed sub-page to thepreset sub-page; and replace the first page icon with the second pageicon.

In some optional implementations, the icon updating apparatus mayfurther include: a first restoring unit (not shown in the Figures). Thefirst restoring unit is configured to, in response to a time length, inwhich the first page icon is replaced with the second page icon, notless than a first preset time length, replace the second page icon withthe initial page icon.

In some optional implementations, the icon updating apparatus mayfurther include: a second restoring unit (not shown in the Figures). Thesecond restoring unit is configured to, in response to a time length, inwhich an operation of opening the preset sub-page is not detected afterreplacing the initial page icon, not less than a second preset timelength, replace the first page icon with the initial page icon.

In some optional implementations, the first generation unit 403 isfurther configured to generate a page icon matching a style of theinitial page icon as the first page icon.

In some optional implementations, the determination unit 401 is furtherconfigured to: in response to detecting an operation of following atarget user performed by the user, transmit a request for following thetarget user to a communicatively connected server; and in response tofollowing result information returned by the server indicating that theuser has successfully followed the target user, determine to prompt theuser to open the preset sub-page.

In some optional implementations, the obtaining unit 402 is furtherconfigured to: obtain an avatar of the target user as the referenceimage.

In some optional implementations, information published by the targetuser followed by the user is displayed in the preset sub-page.

Reference is made to FIG. 5 , which shows an exemplary systemarchitecture to which an icon updating method according to someembodiments of the present disclosure may be applied.

As shown in FIG. 5 , the system architecture may include a terminaldevice 501, a terminal device 502, a network 503, and a server 504. Thenetwork 503 is configured to provide a medium of communication linksbetween the terminal device 501, the terminal device 502 and the server504. The network 503 may include various connections, such as wiredconnections, wireless communication link connections, fiber optic cableconnections, or the like.

The terminal devices 501 and 502 may interact with the server 504through the network 503. Various client applications may be installed onthe terminal devices 501 and 502. For example, shopping applications,search applications, social networking applications and the like may beinstalled on the terminal devices 501 and 502. In some scenarios, inresponse to determining to prompt the user to open the preset sub-page,each of the terminal devices 501 and 502 may generate a first page icon.Further, each of the terminal devices 501 and 502 may replace theinitial page icon of the preset sub-page with the generated first pageicon.

The terminal devices 501 and 502 may be hardware or software. In a casethat the terminal devices 501 and 502 are hardware, the terminal devices501 and 502 may be various electronic devices having a display screenand supporting information interaction, including but not limited tosmart phones, tablet computers, laptop computers, desktop computers, andthe like. In a case that the terminal devices 501 and 502 are software,the terminal devices 501 and 502 may be installed in the electronicdevices listed above, and may be implemented as multiple software orsoftware modules, and may be implemented as a single software orsoftware module. There is no specific limitation herein.

The server 504 may provide various services. In some scenarios, theserver 504 may provide the terminal devices 501 and 502 with thereference image for replacing the initial page icon of the presetsub-page.

The server 504 may be hardware or software. In a case that the server504 is hardware, the server 504 may be implemented as a distributedserver cluster including multiple servers, or may be implemented as asingle server. In a case that the server 504 is software, the server 504may be implemented as multiple software or software modules (such as,multiple software or software modules for providing distributedservices), or may be implemented as a single software or softwaremodule. There is no limitation herein.

It should be noted that, the icon updating method according to theembodiments of the present disclosure may be performed by each of theterminal devices 501 and 502. Correspondingly, the icon updatingapparatus may be arranged in each of the terminal devices 501 and 502.

It should be understood that the numbers of the terminal devices, thenetwork and the server in FIG. 5 are only illustrative. There can be anynumber of terminal devices, networks and servers according toimplementation requirements.

Hereinafter, reference is made to FIG. 6 , which shows a schematicstructural diagram of an electronic device (such as a terminal deviceshown in FIG. 5 ) suitable for implementing the embodiments of thepresent disclosure. The terminal devices according to the embodiments ofthe present disclosure may include, but are not limited to, mobileterminals, such as mobile phones, laptops, digital broadcast receivers,PDAs (personal digital assistants), PADs (tablet PCs), PMPs (portablemultimedia players) and vehicle-mounted terminals (such as in-vehiclenavigation terminals), and fixed terminals such as digital TVs anddesktop computers. The electronic device shown in FIG. 6 is onlyexemplary, and should not indicate any limitation to the function andapplication scope of the embodiments of the present disclosure.

As shown in FIG. 6 , the electronic device may include a processingdevice 601 (such as a central processing unit and a graphics processor)which may execute various operations and processing through a programstored in a Read Only Memory (ROM) 602 or a program loaded from thestorage device 608 into a Random Access Memory (RAM) 603. The RAM 603 isfurther configured to store various programs and data required by theelectronic device. The processing device 601, the ROM 602 and the RAM603 are connected to each other through a bus 604. An Input/output (I/O)interface 605 is also connected to the bus 604.

Generally, the I/O interface 605 may be connected to: an input device606, such as a touch screen, a touch panel, a keyboard, a mouse, acamera, a microphone, an accelerometer, and a gyroscope; an outputdevice 607, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), a speaker, and avibrator; a storage device 608, such as a magnetic tape and a hard disk;and a communication device 609. The communication device 609 enables theelectronic device to perform wireless or wired communication with otherdevices for data exchanging. Although FIG. 6 shows an electronic devicehaving various components, it should be understood that the illustratedcomponents are not necessarily required to all be implemented orincluded. Alternatively, more or fewer components may be implemented orincluded. Each of the blocks shown in FIG. 6 may represent one device,or may represent multiple devices as required.

Particularly, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure,the process described above in conjunction with flow charts may beimplemented as a computer program. For example, a computer programproduct is further provided according to some embodiments of the presentdisclosure, including a computer program carried on a non-transitorycomputer readable medium. The computer program includes program codesfor performing the method shown in the flow charts. In the embodiments,the computer program may be downloaded and installed from the networkvia the communication device 609, or installed from the storage device608, or installed from the ROM 602. When the computer program isexecuted by the processing device 601, the above-mentioned functionsdefined in the method according to the embodiments of the presentdisclosure are performed.

It should be noted that, the computer readable medium according to someembodiments of the present disclosure may be a computer readable signalmedium or a computer readable storage medium or any combination thereof.The computer readable storage medium may be, but is not limited to, asystem, an apparatus, or a device in an electronic, magnetic, optical,electromagnetic, infrared, or semi-conductive form, or any combinationthereof. The computer readable storage medium may be, but is not limitedto, an electrical connection with one or more wires, a portable computerdisk, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory(ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or flashmemory), an optical fiber, a portable compact disc read-only memory(CD-ROM), a light storage device, a magnetic storage device or anycombination thereof. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, thecomputer readable storage medium may be any tangible medium containingor storing a program, and the program may be used by or in combinationwith an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device. In someembodiments of the present disclosure, the computer readable signalmedium may be a data signal transmitted in a baseband or transmitted asa part of a carrier wave and carrying computer readable program codes.The transmitted data signal may be in various forms, including but notlimited to an electromagnetic signal, an optical signal or any propercombination thereof. The computer readable signal medium may be anycomputer readable medium other than the computer readable storage mediumand can send, propagate or transmit programs to be used by or with aninstruction execution system, apparatus or device. The program codesstored in the computer readable medium may be transmitted via any propermedium including but not limited to: wired, optical fiber cable, radiofrequency (RF), or any suitable combination of the foregoing.

In some embodiments, the client and the server may perform communicationusing any currently known or future developed network protocol such asHTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol), and may be interconnected with anyform or medium of digital data communication (for example, acommunication network). The communication network embodiments includelocal area networks (“LANs”), wide area networks (“WANs”), internet,end-to-end networks (for example, ad hoc end-to-end networks), and anynetworks currently known or developed in the future.

The computer readable medium may be incorporated in the electronicdevice, or may exist alone without being assembled into the electronicdevice. The computer readable medium carries one or more programs. Theone or more programs, when being executed by the electronic device,cause the electronic device to: determine whether to prompt a user toopen a preset sub-page, where the preset sub-page has an initial pageicon; in response to determining to prompt the user to open the presetsub-page, obtain a reference image for replacing the initial page icon;generate a first page icon based on the reference image; and replace theinitial page icon with the first page icon.

Computer program code for performing operations of the presentdisclosure may be written in one or more programming languages, or acombination of the foregoing, and the programming language includes, butis not limited to, object oriented programming languages, such as Java,Smalltalk, and C++, also includes conventional procedural programminglanguages, such as “C” language or similar programming languages. Theprogram codes may be executed entirely on a user's computer, or beexecuted partly on the user's computer, or be executed as a stand-alonesoftware package, or be executed partly on the user's computer andpartly on a remote computer, or be executed entirely on the remotecomputer or server. In a case that the execution of the program codeinvolves a remote computer, the remote computer may be connected to auser's computer via any kind of network, including a local area network(LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or may be connected to an externalcomputer (for example, via an Internet providing by an Internet serviceprovider).

The flow charts and block diagrams in the Figures shows thearchitecture, functionality and operation of possible implementations ofthe products of system, method and computer program provided accordingto the embodiments of the present disclosure. Each block in the flowcharts or block diagrams can represent a module, a program segment, or apart of code, and the module, the program segment, or the part of codeincludes one or more executable instructions for implementing specifiedlogical functions. It should be noted that in some alternativeimplementations, the functions noted in the blocks may be implemented ina different order than those illustrated in the Figures. For example,two blocks shown in succession may in fact be executed substantially inparallel, and they may sometimes be executed in a reverse order,depending upon the functionality involved. It also should be noted thateach block in the schematic diagrams and/or flow charts, andcombinations of blocks in the schematic diagrams and/or flowcharts, canbe implemented by a dedicated hardware-based system which is configuredto implement specified functions or operations, or can be implemented byusing a combination of dedicated hardware and computer instructions.

The units mentioned in the description of the embodiments of the presentdisclosure may be implemented by means of software, or otherwise bymeans of hardware. The designation of these units does not in any caseconstitute a qualification of the unit itself. For example, thedetermination unit may also be described as a unit “for determiningwhether to prompt a user to open a preset sub-page”.

The functions described above in this application may be performed atleast in part by one or more hardware logic components. For example,without limitation, exemplary types of hardware logic components thatcan be used include: Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), ApplicationSpecific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), Application Specific StandardProduct (ASSP), System on Chip (SOC), Complex Programmable Logicaldevice (CPLD) and so on.

In the present disclosure, a machine-readable medium may be a tangiblemedium, which may contain or store a program used by the instructionexecution system, apparatus, or device or a program used in combinationwith the instruction execution system, apparatus, or device. Themachine-readable medium may be a machine-readable signal medium or amachine-readable storage medium. The machine-readable medium mayinclude, but is not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical,electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus or device,or any suitable combination of thereof. The machine-readable storagemedia, for example, includes an electrical connection based on one ormore wires, a portable computer disk, a hard drive, a random accessmemory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmableread-only memory (EPROM or flash memory), an optical fiber, a portablecompact disk read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storage device, amagnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of thereof.

The above description includes merely preferred embodiments of thepresent disclosure and explanations of technical principles used. Thoseskilled in the art should understand that the scope of the presentdisclosure is not limited to technical solutions formed by a specificcombination of the above technical features, but covers other technicalsolutions formed by any combination of the above technical features orequivalent features thereof without departing from the concept of thepresent disclosure. For example, a technical solution formed byinterchanging the above features with technical features having similarfunctions as disclosed (but not limited thereto) is also covered in thescope of the present disclosure.

1. An icon updating method, comprising: determining whether to prompt auser to open a preset sub-page, wherein the preset sub-page has aninitial page icon; in response to determining to prompt the user to openthe preset sub-page, obtaining a reference image for replacing theinitial page icon; generating a first page icon based on the referenceimage; and replacing the initial page icon with the first page icon. 2.The method according to claim 1, wherein after obtaining the referenceimage for replacing the initial page icon, the method further comprises:generating a second page icon based on the reference image; and themethod further comprises: in response to detecting an operation ofopening the preset sub-page after replacing the initial page icon,switching from a currently displayed sub-page to the preset sub-page;and replacing the first page icon with the second page icon.
 3. Themethod according to claim 2, further comprising: in response to a timelength, in which the first page icon is replaced with the second pageicon, not less than a first preset time length, replacing the secondpage icon with the initial page icon.
 4. The method according to claim1, further comprising: in response to a time length, in which anoperation of opening the preset sub-page is not detected after replacingthe initial page icon, not less than a second preset time length,replacing the first page icon with the initial page icon.
 5. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein the generating a first page iconcomprises: generating a page icon matching a style of the initial pageicon as the first page icon.
 6. The method according to claim 1, whereinthe determining whether to prompt a user to open a preset sub-pagecomprises: in response to detecting an operation of following a targetuser performed by the user, transmitting a request for following thetarget user to a communicatively connected server; and in response tofollowing result information returned by the server indicating that theuser has successfully followed the target user, determining to promptthe user to open the preset sub-page.
 7. The method according to claim6, wherein the obtaining a reference image for replacing the initialpage icon comprises: obtaining an avatar of the target user as thereference image.
 8. The method according to claim 6, wherein informationpublished by the target user followed by the user is displayed in thepreset sub-page.
 9. An icon updating apparatus, comprising: one or moreprocessors; and a storage device, storing one or more programs; whereinthe one or more programs, when executed by the one or more processors,cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:determining whether to prompt a user to open a preset sub-page, whereinthe preset sub-page has an initial page icon; obtaining a referenceimage for replacing the initial page icon in response to determining toprompt the user to open the preset sub-page; generating a first pageicon based on the reference image; and replacing the initial page iconwith the first page icon.
 10. A computer-readable medium storing acomputer program, wherein the computer program, when executed by aprocessor, causes the processor to perform operations comprising:determining whether to prompt a user to open a preset sub-page, whereinthe preset sub-page has an initial page icon; in response to determiningto prompt the user to open the preset sub-page, obtaining a referenceimage for replacing the initial page icon; generating a first page iconbased on the reference image; and replacing the initial page icon withthe first page icon.
 11. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein theone or more programs, when executed by the one or more processors, causethe one or more processors to perform an operation comprising:generating a second page icon based on the reference image; and the oneor more programs, when executed by the one or more processors, cause theone or more processors to perform operations comprising: in response todetecting an operation of opening the preset sub-page after replacingthe initial page icon, switching from a currently displayed sub-page tothe preset sub-page; and replacing the first page icon with the secondpage icon.
 12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the one ormore programs, when executed by the one or more processors, cause theone or more processors to perform an operation comprising: in responseto a time length, in which the first page icon is replaced with thesecond page icon, not less than a first preset time length, replacingthe second page icon with the initial page icon.
 13. The apparatusaccording to claim 9, wherein the one or more programs, when executed bythe one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to performan operation comprising: in response to a time length, in which anoperation of opening the preset sub-page is not detected after replacingthe initial page icon, not less than a second preset time length,replacing the first page icon with the initial page icon.
 14. Theapparatus according to claim 9, wherein the one or more programs, whenexecuted by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processorsto perform an operation comprising: generating a page icon matching astyle of the initial page icon as the first page icon.
 15. The apparatusaccording to claim 9, wherein the one or more programs, when executed bythe one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to performoperations comprising: in response to detecting an operation offollowing a target user performed by the user, transmitting a requestfor following the target user to a communicatively connected server; andin response to following result information returned by the serverindicating that the user has successfully followed the target user,determining to prompt the user to open the preset sub-page.
 16. Theapparatus according to claim 15, wherein the one or more programs, whenexecuted by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processorsto perform an operation comprising: obtaining an avatar of the targetuser as the reference image.
 17. The apparatus according to claim 15,wherein information published by the target user followed by the user isdisplayed in the preset sub-page.